Phillies announcer Kalas dies at 73

WASHINGTON – Radio and TV broadcaster Harry Kalas, whose baritone delivery and signature “Outta here!” home run calls provided the soundtrack to Philadelphia baseball for nearly four decades, died yesterday after collapsing in the broadcast booth before the Phillies game against the Washington Nationals. He was 73.

“We lost our voice today,” Phillies President David Montgomery said. “He has loved our game and made just a tremendous contribution to our sport and certainly to our organization.”

Familiar to millions of sports fans outside Philadelphia for his voice-over work with NFL Films, “Harry the K” was beloved at home. He joined the Phillies in 1971.

Cause of death was not immediately known. Kalas had heart surgery – stents were put in – in February, but was able to make it to spring training by mid-March. However, he appeared thinner than normal, even weak.

The Nationals and Phillies discussed whether it would be appropriate to postpone the game, but Montgomery said Kalas “would have wanted to play the game.” There was a moment of silence in Kalas' memory before the first pitch in Washington and at other baseball stadiums around the country yesterday.

Reached yesterday in New York, Padres broadcaster Ted Leitner, who worked briefly in Philadelphia before coming to San Diego in 1978, spoke with admiration for Kalas.

“He was one of those guys,” Leitner said, “it's like listening to James Taylor on the radio; you never said, 'Who's that, James Taylor or somebody else?' When you listened to Harry, with his halting delivery and that voice, you knew who it was immediately. There are very few guys you could say that about.”